Instructional Objectives:  This course will:

1. Introduce basic reference tools (print and electronic)
2. Discuss how to evaluate and select reference tools.
3. Learn about the importance of interpersonal skills and questioning strategies in the reference interaction.
4. Explore the impact of information technologies.
5. Learn about the new models and the evaluation of reference services.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the development of reference service and the basic concepts.
2. Use reference service guidelines and policies as appropriate. 
3. Articulate and model the critical functions of the reference interaction, the interpersonal dimensions, and questioning strategies.
4. Analyze the impact of information technologies on reference services (networking, online sources, and the Internet).
5. Discuss criteria to be used in evaluating reference sources and collections.
6. Identify selection principles and evaluation tools involved in building a reference collection.
7. Identify selection principles involved in providing reference sources for particular users in specific settings.
8. Use a simple search strategy in providing reference assistance using a variety of formats (print, electronic, other media).
9. Use various reference sources to find answers to reference questions.

Organization of the Course:  This course consists of lectures, discussions, exercises and class activities.  Students are expected to do all assigned readings, to examine reference materials as assigned, to come to class prepared to discuss readings, assignments, and to actively participate.  Active participation includes, but is not limited to the following: being informed by assigned readings and demonstrating this by contributing to class discussions, asking relevant questions or challenging points raised in class and suggesting new ways of looking at things.

Assignments and Criteria of Assessment:

Participation and Attendance             10%

Assignments                                      15%

Short Paper #1                                  20%

Short Paper #2                                  20%

Webliography                                    20%

IPL Project                                       15%

Total                                               100%

Major Course Readings:

Cassell, K.A. and U. Hiremath.  (2009) Reference and Information Services in the 21^st Century:  An Introduction.  2^nd ed.  New York:  Neal-Schuman.

Ross, C.S. ( 2009)  Conducting the Reference Interview. 2^nd ed.  New York:  Neal-Schuman.

Additional readings and exercises are listed in the course schedule or will be assigned in class.

Required Papers:

Short Paper #1 – Interpersonal Communication in the Reference Interview

The purpose of this assignment is to provide the student with some experience with reference interactions from the user perspective.  In this assignment, each student will formulate a reference question that is based upon a previous assignment or experience to which the student already knows the answer.  The student will then choose four (4) different libraries having a reference department or librarian-staffed virtual reference service, and will ask the same question 4 times (one time at each library) as a “surrogate user” in four different ways:  in person, by phone, by e-mail and by chat.  An analysis of the interactions will result in a paper of 5-7 pages double-spaced. 

Your analysis should look first at each interaction separately with separate subheadings (e.g. Interaction 1:  Face to Face) to see if all the components of a good reference interview are present.  The second part of your analysis should be a comparison of both the efficiency of the format (e.g. did you get the correct answer in a reasonable time frame) and the quality of the interpersonal interaction (e.g. how did the interaction make you feel about the way the librarian regarded you as a user).  Your emphasis should be on the interpersonal communication and not on the answer provided.  The final part of your analysis should be a personal reflection on which format you most liked and why.   You are expected to include a short bibliography of sources used.

Short Paper #2 – Search Process Project

This assignment is designed to give the student experience using indexes and full-text databases.  Choose a topic from a list of suggested topics.  You are to search for journal articles (no books, newspapers or websites) on your approved topic as if you were doing a 20-30 page term paper.  Acceptable journal indexes and full-text databases are the multidisciplinary indexes and databases and subject indexes listed in chaptes 8 and 9.

1. Identify 15 of the best articles, the ones you would obtain and read for this mythical paper.  All articles should be from quality journals and at least 3 pages in length.  List them in a bibliography using APA style
2. Describe the process you used to locate the articles.  How did you approach the search and what was your strategy?  Did you ask for help?  Was the help “helpful”?  Would you approach the search in the same way were you to do it over?
3. Provide an annotated bibliography (APA style) of the indexes/databases that you used.  Describe the content of each index /database and the dates of coverage. Citation example: Academic Search Premier.  Ipswich, MA: Ebsco Industries, Inc., 1975 -       .

Short Paper #3 – Webliography

Use the same topic and develop a webliography using several search engines, meta-search engines and subject directories.  Suggested search engines include Google (www.google.com), Yahoo (www.yahoo.com), MSN Search (www.msn.com), Exalead (www.exalead.com), Bing (www.bing.com) and Ask (www.ask.com).  Suggested meta-search engines include Dogpile (www.dogpile.com), and Clusty (www.clusty.com).Suggested subject directories include Infomine (http://infomine.ucr.edu) and Librarians’ Internet Index (www.lii.org).Any search engines listed in chapter 13 are acceptable.

Create a short paper listing 7-10 of the best web sites you found using the evaluation criteria in chapter 13. Use commercial sites (.com) only if absolutely necessary.

On the top line state the subject you were searching followed by a brief paragraph of introduction to the topic.  Then, in alphabetical order, list the web site names using APA format and a brief description with short evaluative comments.  Do not print out web pages and hand them in.  Put “Prepared by” and your name and date on the bottom.  

Class Assignments

Notes from your preparation for each class assignment must be turned in.

Class Project

Rutgers belongs to the IPL (Internet Public Library) Consortium.  All students in this class will be trained and will be expected to answer questions posed through IPL.org.  More details will be given to you.

Course Schedule           

Attendance Policy:  Attendance at all class meetings is highly recommended.  A student who must be absent from a class meeting still has certain responsibilities:

• To inform the professor in advance, or if advance notice is not possible, as soon after the absence as possible (by phone or by e-mail)
• To arrange for delivery to the professor of any assignment due at the class meeting.  Faxes and e-mailed papers will not be accepted unless given permission.
• To obtain notes, handouts, etc. from a classmate (in anticipation of this need, each student is advised to exchange telephone numbers with one or two others in the class)
• Points may be deducted for unexcused absences, coming late to class, or leaving class early.

Written Work:  These guidelines must be followed for all assignments and papers.  Papers that do not meet these standards will be returned to the student for resubmission before grading.  Print out your paper and proof read it before submitting.  Do not proof read from the screen.

• Students must always keep second copies of all assignments that re turned in.  In the case of a piece of written work becoming lost, regardless of fault, it is the responsibility of the student to provide a second copy.
• Assignments are to be typed, double spaced with at least 1” margins on all sides of the paper.
• All papers are to be free from spelling, grammatical and typing errors.  Use no less than 12-point type and number all pages.
• Underline or put all titles of books or databases in italics.
• Assignments are to be handed in as hard paper copies only.  No faxed or e-mailed papers will be accepted unless prior permission is given.
• Put a single staple in the upper left-hand corner – no plastic covers or folders.
• Include a cover sheet for all assignments with name of class/section, student and paper plus semester and date.  A blank page at the end is not required.
• Papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates noted.  Late papers will be marked down one letter grade unless the student has obtained prior permission of the professor (in the case of illness, etc.)
• Papers will be prepared in accordance with the APA (American Psychological Association) style available at http://www.apastyle.org  Although APA requires an abstract, since all your papers are short, no abstract of the paper is required.  Additional information with sample citations for citing print as well as electronic sources is provided at http://owl.english.purdue.edu//owl/resource/560/01/
• All material quoted or paraphrased from another source must be properly cited.

Cell Phone Policy:  Cell phones are to be set to vibrate or turned off during class.

Student Agreement:  Attendance at this class signifies that the student has agreed to abide by and adhere to the policies and regulations specified above.  It is understood that the instructor may adapt or change this syllabus and the assignments contained within it according to circumstances that may arise during the course of the class.

Academic Integrity and Student Support Services:

The consequences of scholastic dishonesty are serious.  Rutgers’ academic integrity policy is at http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml

http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/douglass/sal/plagiarism/intro.html

Rutgers University Libraries and Information Literacy Instruction

http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/

Statement about Learning Disabilities:  Dean Karen Novick (knovick@scils.rutgers.edu) should be notified if students need any special accommodation (long term or short term) due to learning disabilities or physical disabilities.

Disability Support Services  http://disabilityservices.rutgers.edu/

School of Communication and Information www.comminfo.rutgers.edu